HPRB Concept Review

Concept review is the process of early consultation with the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) to help you develop project plans consistent with historic preservation standards. If you are planning a major project on a historic property, you are strongly encouraged to use this process.

What steps does concept review involve?

Concept review (or conceptual review) allows you to get comments from HPRB at an early stage of project planning. You can make design revisions and secure concept approval before spending the time and money needed to prepare the working drawings for a building permit application. Concept review also allows Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and the public to comment during an early design phase, when concerns can be more easily resolved.

Why file for concept review?

To obtain concept review, you file an application with general project plans. The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) gives you initial comments on the project to help ensure that it meets preservation standards. You then present the project at an HPRB meeting, where HPO gives a staff report and the public can participate. The Board discusses the project and gives you its recommendations at the meeting.

If your project is consistent with preservation standards and there are no public objections, you may not need to make a presentation for HPRB to act on your case.